Environment and Planning

Lauren is a highly respected lawyer, specialising in environmental and local government law, construction law and civil litigation.
 
Lauren has been involved in a variety of environmental and local government matters throughout her career. She has a broad client base and acts for local and regional authorities, individuals and families, national corporations, local businesses, iwi and PSGE, and community organisations. Her key areas of practice include:

• assisting to draft and provide advice on district and regional plan provisions; 

• project management of resource consent projects, including; with respect to large residential and coastal subdivisions; commercial developments and industrial facilities;

• minerals and petroleum development, including assisting to obtain consents for offshore installations in the coastal marine area and EEZ and with respect to access arrangements and iwi consultation; 

• acting for affected parties in opposition to consent applications;

• advising on all aspects of the Resource Management Act and Local Government Acts; 

• assisting iwi to develop environmental plans, strategies and guidelines;

• assisting developer clients to formulate and implement consultation strategies;

• appearances and advice with respect to Council Hearings, Environment Court, High Court and Board of Inquiry processes;

• prosecution and enforcement; and

• assisting to draft and providing advice on local government policies and bylaws, including; Local Alcohol Policies, Gambling Policies and Development Contribution Policies

Lauren also regularly acts for our construction clients and has considerable experience in building law and with respect to construction contract disputes and weathertight homes claims.
 
Lauren’s civil litigation experience includes appearances in the District Court and High Court involving a range of contractual disputes, lease and property disputes, debt recovery, and judicial review proceedings. She is a skilled negotiator and enjoys helping clients to find the best solutions possible to resolve disputes quickly and cost effectively. 

Outside of Govett Quilliam

Lauren is the founding member of the Taranaki branch of the Resource Management Law Association (and past president and secretary) and the honorary solicitor of the Friends of the Govett Brewster/Len Lye Centre and of Heritage Taranaki Incorporated. She is also a trustee on the Moturoa School Board of Trustees.

Lauren enjoys mountain biking, skiing and travel but generally spends most of her spare time as Mum to her young sons. She is a keen supporter of the arts and New Zealand music and a self-confessed "foodie". 

Rebecca has been involved in a range of resource management and local government matters throughout her time at GQ and her career, including:

•    Assisting local authorities to draft and providing advice on district and regional plan provisions;
•    Advising submitters on a number of district and regional plan reviews;
•    Project management and strategic advice with respect to resource consent and plan change applications;
•    Advising and representing parties affected by resource consent applications;
•    Advising clients with respect to National Policy Statements, National Environmental Standards and National Planning Standards;
•    Advising and representing clients with respect to marine consent applications under the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act;
•    Appearances and advice with respect to Council hearings, Environment Court, High Court and Board of Inquiry processes; 
•    Assisting to draft and providing advice on local government policies and bylaws;
•    Advising on all aspects of the Resource Management Act and associated legislation and regulations. 
  
Rebecca also advises both employers and employees on employment law matters including individual employment agreements, workplace change processes, personal grievances, and represents clients in disciplinary meetings, mediations and hearings before the Employment Relations Authority.

Outside of Govett Quilliam

Outside of work, Rebecca is kept on her toes by her young daughter and a house full of animals. When she gets the chance (and the weather cooperates) Rebecca enjoys spending time at our glorious beaches, making the most of New Plymouth's thriving café scene or relaxing behind a good book. 

She is a past and present Chair and co-chair of the RMLA (Resource Management Law Association) Taranaki Branch.

Heather began her career at GQ as a graduate, before heading overseas to London, and eventually spending 6 years working in the Cayman Islands. Whilst in the Cayman Islands, Heather was most recently a Senior Associate at Appleby (Cayman Limited) where she was part of the Dispute Resolution Team, working on fund disputes, commercial litigation and a range of insolvency and restructuring matters.

Outside of Govett Quilliam

You will usually find Heather, her husband and two young sons at the beach, hiking or enjoying one of Taranaki’s many playgrounds.

Sade has a Law and Arts degree in History, English and Māori and Indigenous Studies.

Before starting at GQ she worked for the Morrinsville Family Courts and enjoyed her time as the sole Registrar. It was here where she realised an interest for family law in particular, as she found a passion for the wellbeing of children and their families.

Sade is experienced in Court advocacy and regularly appears in the Family Court on matters concerning the Care of Children Act 2004, Family Violence Act 2018 and Oranga Tamariki Act 1989. She also has experience with relationship matters under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976.

In the area of Resource Management, Sade has assisted in advising local government and clients in the renewable energy and oil & gas sectors.

As part of our Te Tira Hau Ture team, Sade enjoys empowering our Maori clients with the information and tools they require to achieve their objectives. Some of this work includes Maori Land Court matters, succession matters, Māori Trusts and Māori land issues.

Sade is passionate about the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori and its place in New Zealand’s identity. In 2021, Sade completed a full year Te Reo Māori course through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Outside of Govett Quilliam

Sade is from Nelson and is a proud Southerner and Crusaders fan. She is very connected with her Iwi and the relevant entities across Te Tau Ihu (Top of the South Island). Law runs in the family with Sade’s brother, Kristin, also a Lawyer at GQ.

Sade has been the Te Tai Hauauru (Taranaki) co-representative for Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa (Maori Law Society) since late 2020. In this role, she occasionally works alongside the New Zealand Law Society.

Sade is also a voluntary advisor at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, and as a member of the Taranaki Young Professionals, completed an internship with Taranaki Cricket Association as a Board Intern for 2021.

Sade enjoys exploring the outdoors and the beautiful landscape Taranaki has to offer. She enjoys connecting and catching up with friends, whānau over food or sport. Now a proud Taranaki first-home owner, you might see Sade out and about with her beagle pup - Benji!

Robyn has a strong background in Real Estate, having worked as a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson for over twelve years in the Taranaki Region. Robyn’s time in Real Estate has given her many skills she can utilise in her Legal Support Role with the Resource Management, Litigation, and Employment Teams at Govett Quiliam.

Outside of Govett Quilliam

Originally from Queenstown, Robyn moved to New Plymouth twenty years ago after travelling and living in various countries. When Robyn isn’t heading outdoors for some hiking, skiing, or snorkelling, you might find her cooking up a storm or enjoying a good book.